Seattle teen killed after ambush shooting

A 19-year-old man died after he was ambushed and shot by a masked suspect Friday night in the Central District.

The shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. in the 2500 block of South Norman Street. The victim, whose name has not been officially released pending family notification, was with friends in front of a residence when the suspect walked up and shot him several times.

The shooter then ran to a waiting light-colored Mercedes-Benz and fled eastbound.

“It appears that there were other suspects in the vehicle, but it is unknown how many,” Detective Jeff Kappel said in a statement. “Nobody else was injured in the shooting.”

Police said the shooting wasn’t a random act, though they said it was unknown if the primary suspect and victim knew each other.

“People were screaming, women were screaming, ‘Call the police. Call the police,’” a woman who heard the shots told KOMO/4. She did not give her name.

Police said the shooter was a black man with a thin build, 5-foot-11 with dreadlocks or braids in his hair. He was last seen with a black ski mask.

Anyone with information about the fatal incident – even those who want to remain anonymous – have been asked to call 911. Police initially described the victim as a man in his 30s, and did not elaborate on what caused the confusion.

This is the fourth homicide case in Seattle and the first since March 4, when two men were shot to death on Beacon Hill. There also were two fatal officer-involved shootings. Click on the gallery above to see details of each of the 2013 Seattle homicides.